West Seattle, Washington
03 Friday
(GOOGLE MAP of West Seattle for Japan participants’ locations – click here to see it or scroll down the WSB home page. Our morning coverage is here; our afternoon coverage is here.)
If you haven’t already been out to join in the nearly-30-business fundraiser West Seattle for Japan – or even if you have! – there are places to go and things to do tonight. Above, the WS4Japan poster outside Feedback Lounge (6451 California SW: WSB sponsor), whose proprietor Jeff Gilbert designed it – they’re donating the profits from food and beverages sold today/tonight. Inside, Leslie and Amy were behind the bar as of about an hour ago:
We dropped by The Bridge (35th SW just south of Avalon) at mid-afternoon, while LT was behind the bar:
According to The Bridge’s Facebook page, she’s made way for successors tonight – but they’re continuing on as The Triangle’s anchor for the fundraiser. In The Junction, Mashiko is offering a $25 bento tonight, half the proceeds to be donated, with its ingredients highlighting Northeastern Japan traditions. (Photo added – Mashiko’s owner Chef Hajime Sato hard at work tonight:)
Other places open tonight from the official list on the West Seattle for Japan Facebook page’s info tab – West 5‘s spinning with DJ Deanzig tonight – here’s the story proprietor Dave Montoure did with KING 5 earlier today:
Also part of West Seattle for Japan tonight, Shadowland, Mission, Porterhouse, Beveridge Place Pub, Skylark Café and Club (with the Spike reunion), Fresh Bistro, JaK’s Grill, Wing Dome, and Taqueria Guaymas.
(GOOGLE MAP of West Seattle for Japan participants’ locations – click here or scroll down WSB home page. Our morning coverage is here. And remember, this continues on into the evening, be part of it tonight!)
We’re in The Junction as the all-day-all-night West Seattle for Japan benefit continues. Above, Dave Montoure of West 5, who hatched the idea, and Pat Schmitt of Peace Winds America, one of the beneficiaries. We talked with them a little while ago to find out exactly what your money is going for – Peace Winds is based in Seattle, with an affiliate in Japan, and people on the ground in four of the hardest-hit cities in northeastern Japan. For just one example – Schmitt says they just delivered more than 500 kerosene stoves, and thousands of gallons of fuel, to areas where quake/tsunami survivors are having a hard time staying warm. The operation is moving soon from relief to recovery – they will need to help rebuild. Peace Winds is one of the largest NGOs (non-government organizations) helping in Japan, Schmitt explains. Montoure used to live in the quake zone and says he has spoken with a friend who told him the situation at shelters is hard to imagine. So your money’s going to a great cause – like the donations being collected in this box at West 5:
And the donation jar near the turntables at Red Cup Espresso about a block north (it’s always Turntable Sunday at Red Cup):
Up California SW a bit further, you’ll find these special bags at Cherry Consignment, bonuses for those buying at least $20:
Then back into the heart of The Junction, Easy Street Records is among those donating part of their proceeds today – here’s our overview of the shopping crowd:
And at Many Moons Trading Company, in the midblock breezeway off the west side of California SW between Oregon and Alaska, sidewalk chalk invites you inside:
On Alaska just east of California, there’s City Mouse Studio and Store (WSB sponsor):
Also, CAPERS, where WSB contributor Ellen Cedergreen photographed Mary Summers:
The West Seattle Farmers’ Market is participating too, and we’re off to see what’s going on there – less than half an hour to go, but lots of time to get to the *other* venues (Team WSB is stopping by others too) – the list is on the info tab of the West Seattle for Japan FB page; also, if you missed the link atop this story, we have the 27 participants with storefronts all mapped here. Don’t miss the chance to be part of a community-wide effort to help … we even spotted King County Executive Dow Constantine (getting an origami-crane-making lesson right after we arrived at West 5 just before noon).
ADDED 4:40 PM: Remember, Morgan Junction is in on this too, with Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) and Beveridge Place Pub, which has this cool sign on the sidewalk:
More to come – there’s dinner and entertainment still part of the deal.
(GOOGLE MAP of West Seattle for Japan participants’ locations – click here or scroll down WSB home page – meantime, for this report, we are putting our latest stops FIRST, below!)
THIRD REPORT, 11:23 AM: WSB contributor Ellen Cedergreen stopped by Coffee to a Tea with Sugar and found their contribution to West Seattle for Japan – cherry-blossom cupcakes, with ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of the proceeds donated! They’re in The Junction at 4541 California SW. (Earlier coverage continues below:)
SECOND REPORT, 11 AM: We’ve just visited the southernmost stop on the West Seattle for Japan map at 10223 26th SW, Village Green Perennial Nursery. Proprietor Vera and team are out back with the plants and open till 4:30 pm today. She is donating a percentage of proceeds. Also, before we get to The Junction, we asked WSB contributor Ellen to send a quick camphone pic of origami-crane-making at West 5 – here’s WS4Japan mastermind Dave and friends working on cranes:
Earlier coverage below:
FIRST REPORT, 10:19 AM: We are on the road covering West Seattle for Japan – one of our first stops, Skylark Café and Club (3803 Delridge Way SW; WSB sponsor), where the menu shown in our iPhone photo lists their brunch cocktails, with $1 from each one going to the Japan relief fund. Tonight at Skylark, something special too – Rod Moody (who you may know as webguy for Easy Street Records and Café, also participating today) sends word that he and Spike (for which he is singer/guitarist) are playing for the first time in more than a decade! 9 pm at Skylark. Much more to come as we stop by other WS4J venues (you can share your photos too – editor@westseattleblog.com).
(ADDED SUNDAY MORNING: Highlights of participants’ specific donation opportunities, as we find them!)
Sunday’s the day – eat, drink, shop, rock out around West Seattle (and a bit beyond!) as part of a community-wide benefit for Japan earthquake/tsunami relief. Just eight days after West 5 proprietor Dave Montoure announced the plan, 27 local businesses are on board – and hours from now, it’s up to you. The list of participants resides on the official West Seattle for Japan Facebook page – follow the “info” link and be sure to click “see more” on that page. The 27 that are signed up so far are in our Google map (and we’ll add any more that are announced). Each business is doing something different – there’s food, drink, music, shopping, origami-crane-making. The two nonprofits to receive what’s raised by West Seattle for Japan are Peace Winds Japan and KnK Japan.
ADDED SUNDAY MORNING: Highlights, and we are continuing to add to them:
WEST 5: Stop by starting in the brunch hours and make origami paper cranes! In the evening, DJ Deanzig will be spinning.
SKYLARK CAFE AND CLUB: Start the day with brunch at Skylark (a WSB sponsor), 9 am-3 pm – $1 from every brunch cocktail will be donated to the Japan relief effort, per the Skylark website.
FEEDBACK LOUNGE: Profits from every food/drink purchase at The Feedback (also a WSB sponsor) today go to Japan relief (per website for Feedback, also a WSB sponsor).
BIN 41 WINE SHOP: Noon-2 pm wine tasting with Small Vineyards; $5 fixed fee with 100% going to the relief fund.
BEER JUNCTION: Donating 10% of sales, plus a beer tasting 3-6 pm, try two beers for $1 (the fee also will be donated).
MEANDER’S KITCHEN: Donating 10 percent of today’s proceeds.
RED CUP ESPRESSO: Donating 25 percent of today’s proceeds.
MASHIKO RESTAURANT: On the Mashiko website, Chef Hajime Sato writes that they are offering a special bento with the flavors of Northeast Japan, $25, half of that price going to the relief effort.
CITY MOUSE STUDIO: Donating 20 percent of today’s sales.
CAPERS: Donating 15 percent of today’s sales.
VILLAGE GREEN PERENNIAL NURSERY: Donating a percentage of the day’s sales.
WEST SEATTLE PRODUCE: Donating a percentage of the day’s sales.
MANY MOONS TRADING COMPANY: Having a 50 percent off sale and inviting patrons to “donate the money you save” to the Japan relief effort.
(WSB photo from 4/17/2010 – Brunette Mix [WSB sponsor] is participating again this year)
Yes, it’s not technically a tax-free day – but it’s definitely a DISCOUNT day. On this special date in The Junction, participating merchants pay your sales tax, so you get a discount of at least 9.5 percent. The West Seattle Junction Association has just announced this year’s version of what is becoming an annual tradition – on Saturday, April 16th, 10 am-6 pm, 37 merchants are signed up (see the list here). When you go to The Junction that day, look for the red balloons, which mean you’ll find “all-day tax-free shopping,” as the official announcement puts it, “as well as deep discounts on a wide range of goods and services.” Follow the list link to see some of those discounts!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The need for a state law to regulate medical-marijuana dispensaries is “a public safety issue, not a civil-liberties issue.”
That’s what Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes told WSB this afternoon, as we sought a followup conversation regarding three recent events: First, the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council discussed dispensaries last week, after a fleeting report that one might move into a Delridge Way storefront; then, a West Seattle dispensary was targeted by armed robbers last Saturday night; and third, a committee chaired by West Seattle State Rep. Eileen Cody is considering the bill, SB 5073, that would create the regulation Seattle and other city leaders are hoping for. (The online legislative record doesn’t reflect this so far, but Holmes said his understanding was that the committee voted narrowly in favor of the bill today, with amendments he was waiting to hear about.)
We contacted Holmes because a policy expert from his office, John Schochet, had spoken at last week’s district-council meeting, declaring that dispensaries are “technically not legal” and saying that if the state doesn’t take action, Seattle will have to do something.
What would that something be? we asked Holmes today. The only thing he could be clear on is that inaction wouldn’t be an option – though it’s what’s being (not) done right now.
“We need to do something. Right now these are felony operations,” Holmes said, and “allowing them to continue proliferating” – he estimates there are 30 in Seattle – is not in anyone’s best interest.
Yet moving to shut them all down isn’t in anyone’s best interest either, he contends, since that would take a massive amount of law-enforcement time and jail space.
Three business-anniversary celebrations of note:
BIN 41 WINE SHOP: Today is the one-year anniversary of the “soft opening” for Bin 41 wine shop in The Junction. We stopped in to photograph owners T. Frick McNamara and Jon McNamara; they’re planning a big celebration for April 1st, but today has sentimental value. They’re also continuing with Friday night tastings – 5:30-7 pm this Friday, it’s winemakers from the Willamette Valley.
MAX AND QUINN’S ATOMIC BOYS SHOP-O-RAMA: The Admiral District toys-memorabilia-and-other-quirky-stuff shop at 4311 SW Admiral Way is celebrating three years in business. They’ve announced a party for this Saturday, 10 am-6 pm, “food, fun, and games.”
And there’s a big anniversary for a little Morgan Junction restaurant:
(Photo by Bill Hutchison for WSB)
ABBONDANZA TURNS TEN: To thank customers who have kept them in business for a decade, through ups and downs, even as more eateries moved into the area, Abbondanza is now open for lunch, with a special “Presto, Presto” offering 11 am-2 pm Mondays-Fridays, two for one through April 15th (back to regular pricing after that) – pan pizza and soup or salad. They also are serving brunch, 9 am-2 pm, $11.95 fixed price, “with an Italian flair,” we’re told – that includes options such as eggs Florentine, an Italian frittata, Croccante Signore (like a Croque Monsieur), or Spaghetti Pie. Abbondanza is at 6503 California SW, just south of the intersection with Fauntleroy.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
If you’ve seen the agenda for next week’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting, you might have noticed this item:
Discussion on Medical Marijuana Dispensary @ 5214 Delridge Way
There isn’t one there now, but word circulated in the neighborhood this past week that one was planned for that address, which has been undergoing renovations for months. It’s the same spot that evokes unpleasant memories for longtime community members, since it was long home to Delridge Vacuum and TV, whose license was revoked by the city two years ago after ongoing controversy about everything from the nature of the business to its street-front appearance, plus a criminal investigation.
After hearing about the reported dispensary plan, we tried to confirm it. We attempted to contact the property’s owner, including a visit to the site, but were told he was unreachable till next week; a broker representing at least one space at the address told WSB the space she represented hadn’t been rented yet. A check of the DPD records for the address only mentions a salon, office and live-work unit.
Then we checked today with Southwest Precinct leadership, who say they have word the plan may have changed.
Just in from Shannon Felix of Avalon Glassworks, on behalf of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce awards committee – the big announcement about who will be honored at the Chamber’s annual awards breakfast on April 6th:
The results are in! Thank you to all who submitted nominations for The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Program. From a pool of over one dozen businesses, the committee has selected Salty’s on Alki as the WestSide Business of the Year for 2010. Please join us in honoring them at the Awards Breakfast, coincidentally, at Salty’s on Alki on April 6, 2011. All the nominees represented the quality West Seattle businesses which make us proud, including: West Seattle Thriftway, Mashiko, Bakery Nouveau, Stor-More, Auto Buff, Click! Design That Fits, Luna Park Cafe, ZippyDogs, Roxbury Lanes, Husky Deli, J.F. Henry, and Avalon Glassworks.
A new award category this year is WestSide Emerging Business of the Year. Congratulation to Mountain To Sound Outfitters for being the first recipient and a strong addition to our business community. Some other fresh faces are already making a great impression. Nominees for WestSide Emerging Business of the Year, a category that honored those in business less than three years, included: Tuscan Tea Room, Fresh Bistro, Service Dog Academy, Suite Arrangements, The Swinery, Westside Yoga & Doga, West Seattle Produce Co., The Andover School, Avalon Restaurant, and Feedback Lounge.
Also new this year is the Not-For-Profit category, to which The West Seattle Farmers Market has been chosen WestSide Not-for-Profit Business of the Year. West Seattle is home to some hard-working Not-for-Profit organizations. Nominees for this inaugural award included West Seattle Helpline, Seattle Chinese Garden Society, WestSide Baby, and Rotary Club of West Seattle.
Finally, the second-annual WestSider of the Year award goes to Richard Jump, charismatic executive director of the White Center Food Bank. Since becoming executive director six years ago, he has expanded the programs of the food bank with a new user-friendly facility, additional staff and volunteers, the Baby Pantry, and a Mobile Food Bank to reach even more members of the community. “Every program enhancement or building design decision gives great focus on client dignity and convenience,” expresses Nancy Woodland of WestSide Baby. “He recognizes goodness in people, and builds relationships.”
For more information, or to purchase tickets for the WestSide Annual Awards Program Presentation, contact the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, 206-932-5685.
As last year’s Business of the Year honorees, we at WSB congratulate this year’s winners – see you at the breakfast! (P.S. The Chamber’s regular monthly meeting today was at the Southwest Precinct, and some interesting information about West Seattle crimefighting emerged – watch for the story here later.)
Today, we welcome one of our newest WSB sponsors, Always Best Care Senior Services of Seattle, specializing in non-medical in-home care and senior living referrals, and owned and operated by Brian and Maureen Englund. 
New sponsors are offered the chance to let you know more about their business: With more than 30 years of experience in senior living, care and services, the Englunds have a sincere concern for enhancing the quality of life that goes beyond doing what is required and doing more for those entrusted to their care.
Always Best Care Seattle is licensed to provide non-medical in-home care needed for seniors and adults of any age to continue living safely and comfortably at home. Care providers are directly employed, licensed, insured and bonded, and receive comprehensive orientation and ongoing training. Home care services are available 1 to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week including holidays. With Always Best Care, seniors and their families have the important and empowering option of remaining at home with in-home care or receiving assistance with the selection and move to a senior living community. You will receive guidance in making a well informed and sound decision. Either way, you will receive exceptional service and peace of mind.
Always Best Care is also pleased to offer their services as certified leaders of the American Red Cross Family Caregiving program as a complimentary public service. The program consists of eight one-hour classes, and each is a self-contained module allowing you to attend any or all of the classes. The program has just begun at the Senior Center of West Seattle, every Wednesday, continuing this week (March 9). The next seven classes are:
General Caregiving Skills – March 9
Positioning and Helping Your Loved One Move – March 16
Assisting with Personal Care – March 23
Healthy Eating – March 30
Caring for the Caregiver – April 6
Legal and Financial Issues – April 13
Caring for a Loved One with Alzheimer’s Disease – April 20
To register online, go to www.abc-seattle.com/red-cross.
We thank Always Best Care Senior Services of Seattle for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
(Photo by Deanie Schwarz for WSB)
PORTSIDE COFFEE COMPANY MARKS FIRST ANNIVERSARY: Amid all the hubbub over Highland Park business changes at 16th/Holden, we almost lost sight of the fact that even with JoJo’s closed, HP still has coffee – Portside Coffee Company, in the big metallic ship-shape building, is down the Highland Park Way hill at 6720 West Marginal Way. Owners Sarah and Justin Awes told WSB contributor Deanie Schwarz that business in Year 1 exceeded their projections and continues to grow, as people continue to discover them: “I hear this all the time from people – they’ll tell me ‘I’ve driven by here a hundred times and never saw you,’” Sarah says. Her father built the custom “ship’s hull” coffee stand. She says they were the first espresso stand in Seattle to use coffee from Lynnwood-based Silver Cup; they’ve built business with “Two-Dollar Tuesdays,” charging that sum for a 16-ounce coffee drink (single or double) or 12-ounce fruit smoothie. Portside is open 5 am-5 pm weekdays, 7 am-noon Saturdays, closed Sundays.
LOCAL MARTIAL-ARTS ENTREPRENEUR LEADS NATIONAL ORGANIZATION: Lisa Skvarla, who owns LMA Martial Arts in West Seattle, is now the chair of the Association for Women’s Self-Defense Advancement, a national nonprofit organization. From the online announcement (which you can read in full here):
Skvarla has attended numerous AWSDA conferences over the years, in Toronto, Phoenix, Greenville, South Carolina, and Asheville, North Carolina. “Those conferences were so beneficial and many of them changed my life,” she says. “Every time I came home I was pumped about the information I had received. Teachers and members from all over the world, including Germany, South Africa, England, Denmark, come to the AWSDA conferences.
AWSDA welcomes anyone who supports the growth and improvement of a woman’s ability to defend themselves. Membership and involvement is relevant to everyone – (including) housewives, teenage girls, self-defense instructors, law enforcement professionals, and rape-crisis counselors. All male teacher applicants are required to submit a brief resume plus a letter of intent explaining their reasons for applying for AWSDA. In conclusion, Skvarla advises: “I would encourage all women to get involved, empower themselves and improve their personal safety. It is a great honor to serve and to be a part of this organization.”
As you might recall, Skvarla is also an actor/stuntperson, recently featured in a cable-TV movie.
WEST SEATTLE AUTHOR WINS AWARD: Alki-based author Robyn M Fritz was honored recently by the Dog Writers Association of America with their 2010 Merial Human-Animal Bond Award. It’s a national award, sponsored by Merial, for “the work that best highlights the unique relationship between a dog and its owner and best brings to life the concept of the human-animal bond.” In this case, the work the award honors is Fritz’s book (cover at left), “Bridging Species: Thoughts and Tales About Our Lives with Dogs.” The award came with a $500 cash grant and a $250 travel stipend to attend the banquet. More information at www.alchemywestinc.com. Robyn is co-hosting “Crystals as Art” at Alki Arts next Saturday, 2-7 pm (more info here).
Often a big new sign where there was none before means a new business. Not in this case. Brian Presser of TouchTech Systems in The Junction (4517 California SW, on the east end of the breezeway) e-mailed to share news of the new sign – his first big street-facing sign after more than three years at that location: “TouchTech started on January of ’96 and we’ve been in West Seattle since October ’07. After many years of meeting people and hearing them say, ‘I had no idea you were here,’ we decided to take the plunge and go big! We had a small sign at eye level just outside the breezeway door on California, but this is way bigger and brighter.” TouchTech offers a variety of tech-related services, including being an authorized Apple reseller.
Laurie Paul is a longtime West Seattle resident who is thrilled that her commute is about to get a lot shorter. She has been director of a Bright Horizons child-care center in Bellevue for 14 years – and now she is going to lead its first center in West Seattle, at Link (WSB sponsor) in The Triangle. If you see this before 7 pm, you have a chance to meet her during a drop-in informational session that’s under way at Cupcake Royale in The Junction (California/Alaska); otherwise, watch this webpage for upcoming events (like a hard-hat tour on March 31st). Paul told WSB contributor Ellen Cedergreen at today’s event that Bright Horizons is scheduled to open in Link on May 2nd.
Bright Horizons started back east and now has centers in North America and Europe. Some of its centers are partnered with companies to serve their employees (local Starbucks workers may be familiar with the Mermaid’s Lagoon program), but others are standalone community-serving centers like the one in West Seattle will be. According to our earlier conversation with regional manager Mahira Aleem, the center will serve more than 160 children, including three infant rooms. They also hope to integrate their program with some of Link’s unique features, such as the gardens planned on its rooftop deck. Their facilities are centered on the north side of Link, but they also have outdoor play areas, including one being built at the site east of neighboring Lien Animal Clinic where the Link construction trailer has been based.
Though they’re two months away from opening, they’re signing up families now, and you can find information – including phone and e-mail contacts – on their West Seattle-specific webpage, here.
Six West Seattle business notes to share this evening (and more in the works!) …
(Photo by Deanie Schwarz for WSB)
SOUTH DELRIDGE DEMOLITION: The former Circle K/gas-station property at 9061 Delridge Way (map), idle for several years, is undergoing digging/demolition work; the gas tanks will be taken out this Thursday, reports WSB contributor Deanie Schwarz, who spoke with the crew, apparently in preparation for potential sale. (County records show Circle K still owns the site.)
ON SAFARI MOVES ON: We’ve received a few notes from people who’ve noticed that catering company On Safari Foods has cleared out of its longtime kitchen location on 35th just south of Henderson. Our inquiry to its owner hasn’t been answered yet, but according to On Safari’s Facebook page, it’s just moved to a new HQ on 3rd Avenue South in SODO. That makes it the second catering company, after Herban Feast, to move to SODO from WS. (More on the former HF location later in this roundup … ) UPDATE: Minutes after we published this, On Safari’s Teresa Carew replied:
There were a few reasons for our move: we had outgrown our space, as our Google account and general business expanded; we also felt that for the sake of our customers and our business, we had to move before Hwy 99 came down.
I have been searching for a kitchen for a couple of years now, and this one became available. It is the old Organics to Go kitchen. We have moved from 2200 sq. ft. to 5000 sq. ft! Our cooks are in heaven.
At On Safari Foods, our main focus is on creating the type of experience that makes our customers come back time and time again. Our food is lovingly prepared, with fine, fresh, all natural and wherever possible, organic ingredients.
We are going to miss our old location. I really wanted to put a lovely gastro-pub in our location, but do not have the means to do so at the moment – there is not much in the way of a cool neighborhood pub in that area – any investors around?
May I brag on behalf of all our fabulous cooks? Every year Google does a survey of all its cafes to determine how the employees find their cafe operators. There are about 85 Google cafes around the world. Our cafe in Fremont ranked among the top four in the world for satisfaction with quality of food and service!
BIRD ON A WIRE CHANGE: On Safari’s now-former location included the original home of Bird on a Wire Espresso, whose Westwood location is currently around the corner on SW Henderson. Bird’s latest e-mail newsletter notes that they plan to cease beer/wine sales at that location, to focus on coffee. They also have a new initiative at the new-ish 2nd location in Admiral (2604 California SW) – “Bring a same-day receipt from any Admiral business and get a free sweet (with coffee purchase)!”
MEANDER’S: The cozy eatery that opened in the ex-Jade West space last month (6032 California SW) has received rave reviews and is starting to add lunch items, as well as looking at expanding into adjacent space – here’s the latest from its proprietor Miranda Krone.
COASTAL TO REOPEN: After closing for a winter hiatus, the boutique Coastal on Alki is reopening this weekend, first for weekend-only hours, then fulltime starting in April.
SPIRA POWER YOGA ON THE WAY: The former Herban Feast location across from Admiral Theater has a new tenant on the way – Spira Power Yoga. After a WSB’er noticed a sign in the empty storefront and pointed us to this website, we contacted proprietor Dora Gyarmati for more information. She tells WSB she’s hoping to open May 15th, and explains why she chose West Seattle for her studio:
I love the energy in West Seattle. It has a very loving, relaxed, vibe. Also, people tend to be very active, walking, biking. All of these make it a perfect audience for the type of yoga I will be offering. I have a lot of friends that live in West Seattle, and a lot of my students drive from West Seattle to Bellevue or downtown Seattle just to take my classes….They have been begging, it is time! West Seattle needs a Power Flow studio!
More on her new studio after the jump:Read More
Late Friday night, capping a busy week of new-and-moving-business news, we reported that The Sneakery, a Ballard shoe store, is expanding to West Seattle, in the space at 4736 California SW that was long home to Liberty Bell Printing (which moved to a storefront-less location two months ago). We also sent an inquiry to the store’s owner, hoping to get some timetable information, and just heard back. Owner Drea tells WSB “… the space is going to take a lot of work to get up and running. Look for us to open sometime in May. We will be offering old-school sneakers from Saucony Originals, Adidas, Puma, PF Flyers and more. Plus, we will have an extensive sock selection. We are pleased as punch to be serving the people of West Seattle!”
Thanks to Desiree, first to send a note tonight about a sighting in the Junction block we’ve been talking about most of the week – east side of California, north of Edmunds. The former HQ of Liberty Bell Printing – which is still in business elsewhere in West Seattle, without a retail storefront – has a new tenant. “Coming Soon: The Sneakery,” say the signs (as you can see in our iPhone photo at left) – a shoe store. (Datapoint – you might recall, Volume/Payless Shoe Source was in that block some years back.) Desiree even pointed us to a website for The Sneakery, currently based in Ballard. We haven’t reached the proprietor yet, but the city business-license database confirms the West Seattle location has the same owner, and checking The Sneakery’s Facebook page, a cryptic post a few weeks back asked where “fans” might want to see a second location … half of the 12 respondents mentioned West Seattle. We’ve got notes out to see if we can find out how soon they plan to open.
(To recap the week’s earlier discussion of this block – first Tom Yum Koong closed; then we confirmed its new ownership; and today, we confirmed Petco is moving elsewhere in The Junction.)
Something new, three and a half years after Chuck and Sally’s Tavern in Morgan Junction closed without fanfare (as we reported in early September 2007, the original note on the door just said “Closed for a few days/Cooler problems,” and it never reopened): Driving by late today, we did a double-take after spotting the huge FOR LEASE signs in the windows. Owner Jim Jacobsen told Seattle Weekly seven weeks ago that he was looking for a tenant, but the marketing effort appeared to be low-key – till now. Jacobsen told the Weekly the building’s been owned by his family for almost 70 years.
When we first reported on Tuesday that the Junction liquor store was moving to Capco Plaza at 41st/42nd/Alaska, we were also trying to confirm that another Junction business planned to move into that building too. This afternoon, that confirmation has just come through: Petco will leave its California SW storefront (photo) later this year and move into Capco Plaza.
We originally had checked a few days ago with Petco and with Capco’s owner/developer Leon Capelouto, after a WSB’er pointed us to this real-estate listing for Petco’s current California SW spot. The listing page says “tenant relocating” – something many had expected was inevitable, based on the fact it’s been known for more than three years that Petco wanted a new West Seattle location. (You may recall the proposal that fell through three years ago at the site of the Charlestown Café.)
We subsequently found Petco mentioned on this city webpage for the Capco Plaza space. Though no one was ready to confirm it a few days ago, the lease has since been signed, according to Petco, whose media-relations department just called WSB to say it’s official: They expect to open their new West Seattle store in Capco Plaza this fall (the space once was planned as an Office Depot, but that fell through). No date set yet for when the current Junction store will close.
If you’ve driven through Fauntleroy/Alaska over the next few days, you have likely noticed another rebranding in progress at the gas station on the east side of the intersection – we’ve received four notes about this so far. Most recently, it’s been a 76 station; before that, a BP. WSB contributor Katie Meyer went over for the photo and a check on what the blue color scheme portends; answer – Arco. She talked with the crew working on the rebranding – including some digging that has to do with infrastructure for the pumps’ payment system – and neither they nor the employees could tell us whether this means an ownership change, or just a rebrand, just that they’re working to get it done as fast as possible. Another national brand spotted not far away:
Thanks to the WSB’ers who wrote with sightings of the Sprint sign in the window of what was briefly a Starbucks on the north side of inner Jefferson Square (and Infinity Espresso before that) – we haven’t rustled up the projected opening date yet (here’s the city project page), but the sign promises “coming soon.” Jefferson Square had a cell-phone store until Cellular World closed after opening a new storefront in Morgan Junction. There’s also a quick update on an in-progress project we wrote about a few months ago:
(WSB photo from last December)
The former pharmacy at California/Brandon – reported here in December as in transition to a “neighborhood restaurant and bar” – has applied for its liquor license, and in the process its new name is now public: Outwest Bar. We checked again with the new tenants, who told WSB they don’t have anything more to say yet about their plans.
ADDED 8:44 PM: Making a periodic check of the commercial-real-estate listings, we note that the OTHER gas station on the west edge of The Triangle, currently a Shell station, is now for sale – just under $2 million.
Lots of early Valentine’s celebrations today, and things are especially heart-y at Illusions Hair Design (WSB sponsor), in the throes of its annual “Have a Heart Day” fundraiser. Illusions team members donate their time, and the salon offers reduced-price haircuts with all proceeds going to charity – this year, it’s Pencil Me In For Kids, to make sure no student has to go to school without the supplies she/he needs. The salon was busy when we stopped in a while ago, but Illusions’ Sue Lindblom told us they still had a few openings – so you can call 206-938-3675 to see if there’s a chance they can get you in before 4. More reasons to stop in – the artists they’re currently showcasing are on hand too; and they’re offering salon merchandise at a 14% discount. They are accepting Pencil Me in for Kids monetary donations too, so even if you aren’t getting a cut, you can stop by and help the cause – 5619 California SW.
They’re celebrating a big anniversary at Tom’s Automotive Service (WSB sponsor) in The Triangle today – 40 years in business! Though the office is decked with balloons and streamers, and trays of cupcakes are on the counter and in the waiting room – all in the red/white/blue theme that are also their company colors – they’re not stopping down for a party; we could barely get everyone together for our photo; the phone just kept ringing. Tom’s was founded at 6047 1/2 California SW on this date in 1971 (that’s namesake Tom Smith in our photo, fourth from the right). The business moved to The Triangle in 1973. There’s a bit more about Tom’s Automotive in our official WSB welcome from last year, including their community involvement (signs of which are all over the office – with certificates, photos, and the basket for food-bank donations you’re invited to bring in for a discount on your bill).
This Monday, just like every previous Monday after the Super Bowl, the West Seattle produce stand Tony’s Market will reopen after its post-Christmas break. But unlike previous years, its original namesake won’t be there – it’s been two months now since Tony Genzale lost his fight with cancer, at just 61. This afternoon we talked with his son, Joey, as he worked to set up the 35th/Barton market for a new year. He told WSB there was never a question that the market would stay open – his dad said, “Take care of your mother. Take care of the business.” That means not just the produce, but also Christmas trees – like the ones he was back selling right after his dad died. Yes, things will be different – for not-so-obvious reasons, too – in the photo, that’s Joey with a new center-aisle case that will keep produce cooler, and fresher, during summer months. But some things will be the same – Joey promised his dad that you’ll still hear Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra when you stop by – which you’re welcome to do once they’ve reopened at 8 am Monday.
Today we welcome a new WSB sponsor, Erik LaSeur of AlkiMoves, the only practicing Feldenkrais teacher in West Seattle. New sponsors get the chance to tell you about themselves: Erik’s wellness work at AlkiMoves is based upon the work of Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, a Russian-born Israeli scientist and judo master. Erik says what differentiates the Feldenkrais method from most of the health/wellness field is that this isn’t a therapy — rather, it’s a method of learning: “We use movement as a means of learning because it’s easier to measure movement as opposed to thinking, feeling, and sensing. This is the same kind of organic learning we all did when we were infants.” From his work at the Senior Center of West Seattle, 
he says he’s been able to help people dealing with balance problems and neurological challenges:”I’ve had great success working with people who live with Fibromyalgia, spinal stenosis. What keeps people coming back is their curiosity about learning to be their own best healers.” He says he gets referrals from massage therapists, naturopaths, and acupuncturists: “People usually seek me out after they’ve tried everything else and are still in pain, or something physically bothers them.”
The other members of the AlkiMoves staff are Anna Oeste and Mary Morrison. Sessions are held for groups of seven at a time. Erik also works with small companies to help them lower health-care costs by teaching more-efficient, less-painful ways to work, whether it’s lifting heavy weights or sitting at a keyboard. Erik is a member of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and a member of the West Seattle Champions BNI group, is treasurer of the Northwest Region of the Feldenkrais Guild of North America, and is a member of Feldenkrais Teachers in Seattle.
We thank AlkiMoves for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
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